Despite the unfavourable comparison to Russia in my last column, it appears that this year's New Zealand Championship in Wanganui is seeing the rise of new talent. At the time of writing 16 year-old Wang Puchen of Auckland has established an unbeatable lead over the field with one round to play, guaranteeing him at least a share of first place.
Wang has been a strong prospect since finishing fifth in the World under 10 youth championships a number of years ago, but high school studies at Auckland Grammar have come before chess in recent years. Last year however, Wang showed he is still improving, scoring well for the New Zealand team at the chess Olympiad in Torino, Italy and earning the Fide Master title in the process.
In earning his first championship title, Wang had to overcome strong competition from three-time former winner IM Russell Dive of Wellington, who kept an equal pace with Wang right up to the penultimate round when he lost a tense game to defending champion IM Anthony Ker, also of Wellington.
Today's game is Wang's fifth round victory from the New Zealand Championship, playing White and handing experienced NM Peter Stuart of the North Shore his first loss of the tournament.
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. f4 e6 7. Nf3 Nge7 8. O-O O-O 9. Be3 Nd4
A standard position in the Closed Sicilian with f4. White's kingside attacking intentions are clear and he plays the sharpest move involving a pawn sacrifice. 10. e5!? dxe5
If Black was not intending to accept the pawn, I prefer the immediate 10 ... Nef5 keeping the f-file closed for the time being and denying the f4 square to White's bishop. 11. fxe5 Nef5 12. Bf4 Nxf3+ 13. Qxf3 Qc7?!
An unfortunate square for the queen on the based on the illusory idea of pressure against e5. Either 13... Qb6 or 13... Nd4 14 Qf2 Bd7!? was better and a 1992 game Franke-Kishnev saw Black taking the pawn with 13... g5!? 14 Bc1 Bxe5 drawing in 23 moves. 14. Rae1 Nd4 15. Qf2 Kh8?
Presumably to answer 16 Ne4 with Bxe5 17 Bxe5 Qxe5 without incurring 18 Nf6+ winning the queen, but 15 ... Bd7 hurrying up with development was necessary. White's next move signals an all-out assault on the black king – he simultaneously stops the defensive retreat Nf5 and clears the way to the h-file for his heavy pieces. 16. g4! Bd7 17. Ne4! Bc6
Now 16...Bxe5? fails to 17 Bxe5 Qxe5 18 Nf6 Qd6 19 Qh4 with a winning attack. 18. Nf6 Bxg2 19. Qxg2 Qc6 20. Qh3! ---
Not wasting a move defending the c-pawn. With the pawn-defended knight posted in the hole on f6 White has a choke hold and already threatens Qxh7 mate. 20. --- Bxf6 21. exf6 Nxc2 22. Re2 Nd4 23. Re3 g5
Allowing forced mate along the h-file. However, after 23... h5 24 Re5! (not 24 gxh5? g5! keeping the h-file closed) Kg8 25 Rxh5!! gxh5 26 Qxh5 and mate on g7 cannot be prevented. 24. Qh6! Rg8 25. Rh3 Ne2+ 26. Kf2
There are no more checks, so Black resigns.
1-0
Solution: Another famous Bronstein finish 1 Qg6!! fxg6 2 Rxg7+ and 3 Nxg6#.
Wang wins first NZ Championship
Problem: White to play and mate in 3.
Despite the unfavourable comparison to Russia in my last column, it appears that this year's New Zealand Championship in Wanganui is seeing the rise of new talent. At the time of writing 16 year-old Wang Puchen of Auckland has established an unbeatable lead over the field with one round to play, guaranteeing him at least a share of first place.
Wang has been a strong prospect since finishing fifth in the World under 10 youth championships a number of years ago, but high school studies at Auckland Grammar have come before chess in recent years. Last year however, Wang showed he is still improving, scoring well for the New Zealand team at the chess Olympiad in Torino, Italy and earning the Fide Master title in the process.
In earning his first championship title, Wang had to overcome strong competition from three-time former winner IM Russell Dive of Wellington, who kept an equal pace with Wang right up to the penultimate round when he lost a tense game to defending champion IM Anthony Ker, also of Wellington.
Today's game is Wang's fifth round victory from the New Zealand Championship, playing White and handing experienced NM Peter Stuart of the North Shore his first loss of the tournament.
1. e4 c5
2. Nc3 Nc6
3. g3 g6
4. Bg2 Bg7
5. d3 d6
6. f4 e6
7. Nf3 Nge7
8. O-O O-O
9. Be3 Nd4
A standard position in the Closed Sicilian with f4. White's kingside attacking intentions are clear and he plays the sharpest move involving a pawn sacrifice.
10. e5!? dxe5
If Black was not intending to accept the pawn, I prefer the immediate 10 ... Nef5 keeping the f-file closed for the time being and denying the f4 square to White's bishop.
11. fxe5 Nef5
12. Bf4 Nxf3+
13. Qxf3 Qc7?!
An unfortunate square for the queen on the based on the illusory idea of pressure against e5. Either 13... Qb6 or 13... Nd4 14 Qf2 Bd7!? was better and a 1992 game Franke-Kishnev saw Black taking the pawn with 13... g5!? 14 Bc1 Bxe5 drawing in 23 moves.
14. Rae1 Nd4
15. Qf2 Kh8?
Presumably to answer 16 Ne4 with Bxe5 17 Bxe5 Qxe5 without incurring 18 Nf6+ winning the queen, but 15 ... Bd7 hurrying up with development was necessary. White's next move signals an all-out assault on the black king – he simultaneously stops the defensive retreat Nf5 and clears the way to the h-file for his heavy pieces.
16. g4! Bd7
17. Ne4! Bc6
Now 16...Bxe5? fails to 17 Bxe5 Qxe5 18 Nf6 Qd6 19 Qh4 with a winning attack.
18. Nf6 Bxg2
19. Qxg2 Qc6
20. Qh3! ---
Not wasting a move defending the c-pawn. With the pawn-defended knight posted in the hole on f6 White has a choke hold and already threatens Qxh7 mate.
20. --- Bxf6
21. exf6 Nxc2
22. Re2 Nd4
23. Re3 g5
Allowing forced mate along the h-file. However, after 23... h5 24 Re5! (not 24 gxh5? g5! keeping the h-file closed) Kg8 25 Rxh5!! gxh5 26 Qxh5 and mate on g7 cannot be prevented.
24. Qh6! Rg8
25. Rh3 Ne2+
26. Kf2
There are no more checks, so Black resigns.
1-0
Solution: Another famous Bronstein finish 1 Qg6!! fxg6 2 Rxg7+ and 3 Nxg6#.